Automatic machine for milling the ends of handles or the like



Dec. 8, 1953 ENDS OF HANDLES OR THE LIKE Filed MaICh l0, 1948 R. G. HALL AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MILLING THE 4 Sheets-Sheet l @wea \ INVENTOR. Bozza/V0 HHM 5m; ama

HTTOHNEY DeC- 8, 1953 R. G. HALL 2,661,662

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MILLING THE ENDS OF HANDLES OR THE LIKE Filed MICh l0, 1948 4 Sheetsslif 2 INVENTOR. HOLLA/N0 a. HHLL Dec 8, 1953 R. G. HALL 2,661,662

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MILLING THE ENDS OF' HANDLES OR THE LIKE Filed March l0, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5- INVEJCTOR.

ROliH/VD .HGZ F1Z Y- MW HYTOHNE'K Dec. 8, 1953 R. G. HALL 2,661,662

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR MILLING THE ENDS OF HANDLES OR THE LIKE Filed March l0, 1948 V4 ShBetS-Shet 4 of T1 INVENTOR. 5mm/V0 c7. HHM

7D@ M38 BY g2g..

/QTTOHNEY Patented Dec. 8, 1953 AUTOMATIC IWACHINE FR MILLING THE ENDS OF HANDLES R THE LIKE Rolland G. Hall, Yalesville, Conn., assignor to It. Wallace & Sons Manufacturing Company, Wallingford, Conn., a corporation Application March 10, 1948, Serial No. 14,004

(Cl. lill- 14) 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to automatic machines for machining the ends of hollow handles and similar articles.

In the manufacture of table knives or other articles which are provided with hollow handles, it is necessary to face the ends of the handle through which the Shanks oi the knives are inserted, and it is desirable to ream the openings at said ends of the handles.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of an automatically operable ina-- chine for performing the above indicated lacing and reaming operations.

r'he above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention and the con'- struction and operation of the machine will be fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view of the machine, a part being out away for the purpose of illustration, and a part of the bench top for the machine being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a side view thereoi, the housing for certain parts of the machine being shown section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on Fie. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side View, partly section, showing a handle clamp in position and engaged by the machining tool;

Fig. S is an end view of the machine tool;

Fig. 9 is an end view of a typical handle before it is faced and roamed;

Fig. l0 is a sectional view of the handle on the line lli-id of Fig. 9;

l1 is an end View of the handle after it is faced and reamed;

Fig. l2 is a side View of the handle after it is faced and rea-med; and

Fig. 13 is a diagram of the control circuit.

Referring now to the drawings in detail., the machine embodying the present invention cornprises a horizontal support lil on which there mounted a clamping device i2 and an electric motor U5 which drives the rotary machining tool l. The latter comprises a milling cutter l and a roaming cutter 29, in unitary relation, for facing and roaming the handle. As hereinafter described, the handle is clamped in stationary posithe line fie-Ji oi" the line of the line ci tion in the clamping means l2, and the motor which rotates the tool l@ moves toward and away from the clamping means and thus toward and away from the end of the handle which is to be machined and thereby moves the machining tool into and out of engagement with said end of the handle for performing the facing and roaming operations thereon.

The clamping means l2 comprises the stationary clamping member 22 and a companion movable clamping member The stationary clamping member is mounted on a supporting plate 2c of a frame 28. The movable clamping member 2d is secured to a plate 3b in any suitable way, as by a screw 32. Actuating and guide rods 36.1 are fastened to plate 3S and are vertically movable in guide bearings 35 mounted in frame plate 26. Rods 3d are fastened to an actuating plate 38 fixed to and movable with the piston rod in of a double-acting fluid pressure or compressed air motor 42 in housing d3. The cylinder of said motor is supported by plate lil and more particularly by the bracket 44 which is provided on said motor and fastened to said plate. A positioning member t6 for the handle H, or other work which is to bemachined, is adjustably secured to a stud iii fixed to frame plate 2S.

The clamp actuating motor i2 is operable under the control of a solenoid actuated valve 55S (Fig. 3). More particularly, the plunger 52 of the solenoid 5d is connected to the valve-actuating lever 56 by a link 5t. Lever 5e is pivotally mounted on the housing oi the valve ed as indicated at et, and has an arm 62 bearing on the valve stem 5d. A spring Se is provided in the valve housing for resiliently opposing movement of the valve in one directiony when the solenoid is energized, and for moving the valve in its opposite direction when the solenoid 515 is deenergized. The valve action of motor i2 is such that when solenoid 54 is energized the motor piston moves downwardly in the cylinder for moving the movable clamping member 2li downwardly to clamp the handle H in position, and after the end of the handle is machined and the machining tool is disengaged from the handle, solenoid 5t is deenergized and the valve is moved by spring dit to a position in which the compressed air is exhausted from above the motor piston and is admitted into the cylinder below the motor piston for raising the latter and thereby moving the movable clamping member 2d to its retracted position shown in Figs. l and 3.

As hereinbefore stated, the electric motor ld which operates the machining tool it .is movable forwardly toward and rearwardly away from the 3 clamping device i2. For this purpose, motor Ill fixed to a slidable plate 58 which is fastened to the axially movable cylinder 'Iii of a, doubleacting huid pressure or compressed air motor *I2 (Figs. 5 and 6). As shown in Fig. 6, the main supporting plate ld is provided with an opening ill for the connection of cylinder 'Iii to motor I and for accommodating the axial movement of said cylinder in the operation of motor i2 for moving the electric motor ifi toward and away from clamping device I2. Also, as shown in Fig. 6, the piston it ci' motor 'I2 is held stationary by the securernent of the piston rod i8 to the bracket lit fixed to plate lil. Guide members 82 are xed te the motor-carrying plate 5S and are in sliding engagement with the complementary stationary guide members 8d which are fixed to main supporting plate it as shown in Fig. 5. The compressed air motor 'I2 is operable under the control oi a solenoid actuated valve 36 which is mounted in stationary position, separately from the motor, on a bracket 8% and is connected to the cylinder 'lil by flexible tubing SG. The Valve exhaust is indicated at S2 in Fig. 5. The valve action is substantally the same as that of clamp operating 1 motor d2. As here shown, the solenoid 96 has its plunger Se connected to the valve operating lever 98 by a link itil. Valve operating lever S3 is pivotally mounted on the housing of the valve B as indicated at 192 and is provided with an arm les engageable with the valve stem me for moving the latter against the force of the spring HSB when solenoid 94 is energized. It will be understood that when solenoid 915 is energized valve S admits compressed air at one side of piston 'l for moving the cylinder in one direction, the air at the opposite side of the piston being exhausted, and when the solenoid is deenergized the valve is moved in the opposite direction by spring HB8 whereby compressed air is admitted into the cylinder at said last mentioned side of the piston and is exhausted from the cylinder at the first mentioned side of the piston, whereby cylinder 'Iii moves in its opposite direction.

The above described operations of clamp actu- .1

ating motor 'Z and of motor 12 for advancing and retracting tool operated motor I4 are performed automatically under the control of a switch by suitable electric control devices in such manner that it is merely necessary for the operator of the machine to insert and remove the handles and momentarily operate a manually operable switch which may be either a push button switch or a pedal operated switch, preferably the latter. Referring to Fig. 2, a switch box I Il) is mounted on supporting plate I0 and includes a normally open switch l I2 and a normally closed switch I i4 said switches being provided with operating members II and H8, respectively. Said switch operating members are arranged to be releasably engaged by the companion switch actuating members IZB and I2?, respectively, carried by the companion adjustable rods IM each of which is mounted in a companion bracket 526 which is secured to and movable by the slide plate 68 on which motor I 4 is carried for movement toward and away from the clamping device i2, as described above. The arrangement is such that normally open switch Ilz closes as soon as slide plate 68 starts Ito move toward the clamping device and remains closed until said slide plate returns to its starting or retracted position. The normally closed switch IIe remains closed until the motor reaches its predetermined projected position and then opens. When switch I i4 opens,

solenoid 9:3 is deenergized and the tool operating motor I is moved to its retracted or starting position, but as will presently be described, the clamp solenoid which is energized as soon as switch IIE is closed remains energized until the motor returns to its retracted position and until the manually operated control switch 42:3 (Fig. 13) is closed by the operator for the next operation of the apparatus.

Referring now to the circuit diagram shown in Fig. 13, it will be noted that the control circuit includes an electro-magnetic relay which is operable under the control of the manually operated control switch t28. The closing o the control switch I28 by the operator of the machine completes a circuit through the coil i313 ci relay i3d, thereby closing both sets of contacts c-a and b-b of said relay. When contacts a-a are closed, a holding circuit is provided for said relay from line Ll, the normally closed switch I lf3, the branch wire IE5, and wire I38 which is connected to line L2. At the same time a circuit is completed ythrough solenoid all from line L2 through said solenoid, to wire ifi-S, and then through closed contacts bb to wire |38 which is connected to line LZ. As soon as solenoid Esl is energized the slide plate S8 starts to move toward its projected position for engaging vthe tool it with the handle El in the clamping device I 2, as described above, and as soon as said slide plate E8 starts to move switch H2 closes, as hereinbefore stated, as a result, a. circuit is completed through the clamping solenoid 5d, from line Ll through said solenoid wire M2, switch H2, wire 53, and wire |38 vto line L2. it will be noted that when the motor i4 reaches its predetermined projected position, as determined by the adjustment of switch actuating member or" switch I lli, said switch I it is opened and interrupts the circuit through the coil i3d of relay i3d and through the solenoid dii, said relay opening the circuit at contacts a-a and b-b, without however opening the circuit through the clamping solenoid t5, Thus the clamping solenoid remains energized until .the machining tool it disengages the end of the handle, the purpose ci this being to prevent movement of the handle by the machine tool which would otherwise occur ii the clamp were released before the handle is disengaged by the machining tool. As soon as the solenoid Sli is deenergized the control valve d3 of motor 'F2 is reversed and said motor is operated for moving the tool operating motor Id to its retracted position. As soon as motor lll reaches its retracted position, switch i l2 is opened by the `companion actuating member lZ, thus interrupting the circuit through the clamping solenoid Eli. When the clamping solenoid 5d is deenergized, the valve 5@ is operated by spring SS to admit air into the cylinder of motor l2 for moving the clamping member 2d to its retracted position so that the handle may be removed. As soon as the operator has inserted another handle in the clamping device, the cycle of operations initiated by momentarily closing switch i222 is repeated.

Figs. 9 to 12 illustrate more or less schematically the action of tool I6 on the end of the handle. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10 before the end of the handle is operated on it may have an irregularly shaped end surface S and a comparatively narrow opening O, as indicated by Figs. 9 and l0. However, as shown in Figs. 11 and l2, as a result of the operation of the tool I6 on said end of the handle, the latter is provided with a dat face F due to the action of the milling cutters i8 and with an enlarged vopening EO vas a result of the action of the reaming lcutter 20.

it will be understood that while the present machine is intended primarily for facing the ends oi' the hollow metal handles of table knives or similar articles, said machine may be used for other purposes. Also, it will bc understood that while l have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, various changes in the details of construction Vand in the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is:

i. A machine of the character described, cornprising clamping means for the work, a rotary tool, a motor having a driven shaft on which said tool is carried, said motor being reciprocable between retracted and advanced positions in which said tool is out of and in operative engagement, respectively, with the clamped work, a nrst duid-pressure operated device for reciprocating said motor, a first shiftable valve normally in a position in which to admit duid under pressure to said iirst device for moving said motor into said retracted position, a rst relay acting, when energized, to shift said first valve into another position in which to admit duid under pressure to said. irst device for moving said motor into said advanced position, a second uidpressure operated device :for causing said clamping means to clamp and release the work, a second shiftable valve normally in a position in which to admit fluid under pressure to said second device to cause said clamping means to release the work, a second relay acting, when energized. to shift said second valve into another position in which to admit duid under pressure to said second device to cause said clamping means to clamp work, a first electric circuit for said first relay, said circuit including a norm..l.y open switch, a second electric circuit for said second relay, said sec nd circuit including a norme lly closed switch which is opened by said motor in retracted position thereof, a third relay acting, when energized, to close said switch of said first circuit, a starting circuit for said third relay, starting circuit including a normally open push-button switch, and a holding circuit for seid third relay, said holding circuit including a normally open switch closed by said third relay, when energized, and another normally closed switch opened by said motor in said advanced position thereof.

2, A machine of the character described comprising a rotary machining tool, means for relea sably clamping the work in position for engagement by tool., an electric motor for rotating said tool and on which said tool is mounted, means mounting said motor for movement toward and away from said clamping means to engage said tool with and disengage the same from the work, power operated for moving said motor toward and away from said clamping means, manually operable control means for causing operation of said power-operated means to move said motor toward said clamping means, and automatic control means operated in timed relation with the movement of said motor toward said ciamping means for causing operation of said power operated means to move said motor away from said clamping means, other power voperated .means for actuating said clamping means, and other control means responsive to the movement of said motor for causing said other power-operated means to clamp and release the work during movement of said motor toward and away from said clamping means, respectively, whereby said work is releasably clamped after movement of said motor towards said clamping means, said other control means comprising structure in fixed relation relative to said motor mounting means and switching means operatively associated with said structure, said switching means including a normally opened switch and a normally closed switch, the former switch being adapted to close on the predetermined movement of said motor in one direction and the latter switch being adapted to open to limit the movement of said motor in said one direction.

3. rA machine of the character described comprising a rotary machining toolmeans for releasably clamping the work in position for engagement by said tool, an electric motor for rotating said tool and on which said tool is mounted, means mounting said motor for movement toward and away from said clamping means to engage said tool with and disengage the same from the work, power operated means for moving said motorv toward and away from said clamping means, manually operable control means for causing operation of said power-operated means to move said motor toward said clamping means, and automatic control means operated in timed relation with the movement of said motor toward said clamping means for causing operation of said power operated means to move said motor away from said clamping means, other power operated means for actuating said clamping means, and Vother control means responsive to the movement of said motor for causing said other poweroperated means to clamp and release the work during movement of said motor toward and away from said clamping means, respectively, whereby said work is releasably clamped after movement of said motor towards said clamping means, said other control means comprising structure in fixed relation relative to said motor mounting means and switching means operatively associated with said structure, said switching means including a normally opened switch and a normally closed switch, the latter switch being normally spaced from said structure and disposed in the path of movement of the latter, said normelly opened switch being adapted to close on the predetermined movement of said motor towards said clamping means by the cooperative disassociation of said structure and said normally opened switch and said normally closed switch being adapted to open when said motor reaches its advanced position by the cooperative association of said structure and said normally closed switch.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a rotaryT machining tool, means for releasably clamping the work in position for engagement by said tool, an electric motor for rotating said tool and on which said tool is mounted, means mounting said motor for movement toward and away from said clamping means to engage vsaid vtool with and disengage the same from the work, power operated means for moving said motor toward and away from said clamping means, manually operable control means for causing operation of said power-operated means to move said motor toward said clamping means,

and automatic control means operated in timed relation with the movement of said motor toward said clamping means for causing operation of said power operated means to move said motor away from said clamping means, other power operated means for actuating said clamping means, and other control means responsive to the movement of said motor for causing said other poweroperated means to clamp and release the work during movement of said motor toward and away from said clamping means, respectively, whereby said work is releasably clamped after movement of said motor towards said clamping means, said other control means comprising structure in fixed relation relative to said motor mounting means and switching means operatively associated with said structure, said switching means including a normally opened switch and a normally closed switch, the latter switch being normally spaced from said structure and disposed in the path of movement of the latter, said normally opened switch being adapted to close on 'the predetermined movement oi said motor towards said clamping means by the cooperative disassociation of said structure and said normally opened switch and normally closed switch being adapted to open when said motor reaches its advanced position by the cooperative association oi said structure and said normally closed switch, and means for maintaining said clamping means in a work clamped position until said rotary tool reaches its retracted position.

5. A machine oi the character described comprising a rotary machining tool, means for releasably clamping the work in position for engagement by said tool, an electric motor for rotating said tool and on which said tool is mounted, means mounting said motor for movement toward and away from said clamping means to engage said tool with and disengage the same from the work, power operated means for moving said motor toward and away from said clamping means, manually operable control means for causing operation or" said power-operated means to move said motor toward said clamping means, and automatic control means operated in timed relation with the movement of said motor toward said clamping means for causing operation of said power operated means to move said motor away from said clamping means, other power operated means, for actuating said clamping means, and other control means responsive to the movement of said motor for causing said other power-operated means to clamp and release the work during movement of said motor toward and away from said clamping means, respectively, whereby said work is releasably clamped after movement of said motor towards said clamping means, said other control means comprising structure in relation relative to said motor mounting means and switching means operatively associated with said structure, said switching means including a normally opened switch and a normally closed switch, the latter switch being normally spaced from said structure and disposed in the path of movement of the latter, said normally opened switch being adapted to close on the predetermined movement of said motor towards said clamping means by the cooperative disassociation of said structure and said normally opened switch and said normally closed switch being adapted to open when said motor reaches its advanced position by the cooperative association of said structure and said normally closed switch, and means for maintaining said clamping means in a work clamped position until said rotary tool reaches its retracted position, said last mentioned means comprising a clamping solenoid, the latter being lie-energized when said motor mounting means is moved to its retracted position in response to the cooperative association of said normally opened switch and said structure.

6. A machine of the character described, comprising a rotary machining tool, means for releasably clamping the work in position for engagement by said tool, an electric motor for rotating said tool and on which said tool is mounted at one end, means mounting said motor for 1ongitudinal movement toward and away from said clamping means to engage said tool with and disengag'e the same from the work, electrically controlled power operated means for moving said mctor from a starting position forwardly toward said clamping means and rearwardly away from said clamping means to said starting position, a manually operable switch for initiating the operation of said electrically controlled power operated means for moving said motor forwardly, switching means operable in response to the position of said motor after a predetermined forward movement thereof for causing operation of said power operated means to move said motor rearwardly to said starting position, and a relay controlled holding circuit operable initially under the control of said manually operable switch and thereafter independently of the latter for maintaining said rst mentioned operation of said power operated means independently of said manually operable switch and until said operav tion of the 'last mentioned switching means, and

control means for releasably clamping the work after the movement or said motor forwardly, said control means comprising a normaly opened switch and companion switch actuating means in fixed relation relative to said motor mounting means, said last mentioned switch and said switch actuating means being normally operatively associated with each other with said last mentioned switch disposed in the path of movement of said switch actuating means, said last mentioned switch being adapted to be closed in response to the predetermined forward movement of said motor by the operative disassociation of said last mentioned switch and companion actuating means.

ROLLAND G. HAIL.

References Cited in the le of this patent 

